Textile Details

'Libertad a los presos politicos / Freedom for the political prisoners', Anonymous. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

The women who made this kind of arpillera resorted to their textile skills as a means by which to live with conflict and its memory on a daily basis. As Marjorie Agosín(2008) quotes: "For the arpilleristas the political events of their country and their daily lives became inseparable" ("Tapestries of Hope, Threads of Love" , Rowman & Littlefield).

The struggle for better conditions for political prisoners became extremely relevant. This arpillera shows a group of women protesting in front of a prison and demanding the release of the prisoners within.

Actions depicted in arpilleras like this one brought international pressure on the Junta,and internal disagreements within it, made General Pinochet sign the convention against torture in 1988. In turn, this allowed Spain to indict General Pinochet on charges alleging human rights violations during his regime from 1973 to 1990.

The powerful effect of this type of political expression was not recognised at first by the military. Ariel Zeitlin Cooke explains: "Ironically, war textiles are largely disregarded by modern military authorities because of their feminine connotations and can therefore be a relatively safe forum for dangerous or provocative ideas" (Weavings of War).

When the Chilean military finally recognised the power of the arpilleras, they condemned these works as subversive materials and if found they would have been stopped at Customs and destroyed before leaving the country.

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